Salford

Salford's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census also show there were changes in marriage, housing tenure and health.

The population passed 230,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of Salford increased by 8.3%, from about 216,000 to 234,000.

The addition of almost 18,000 people means this area's population was the second-fastest-growing in the North West and increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Salford was home to, on average, 17 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

A younger Salford

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Salford decreased by one year, from 36 to 35 years.

This multi-cultural area had a lower average age than the North West and remained somewhat younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just under 11,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 10 and 19 years decreased by about 1,000.

About 17% of people in Salford are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Salford by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Salford

Salford saw the North West's second-largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

In 2011, just over 4 in 10 (43%) people aged 16 and over in Salford said they were single, compared with 35% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 43% to 37%.

Across the region, only Liverpool saw a greater rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership (from 42% to 50%).

Every local authority area across the North West saw a rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership, as the regional average grew from 30% to 36%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Salford, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.5% to 11% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in three (36%) households had only one person, compared with 37% in 2001. The percentage of households in Salford which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 29% to 25%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the North West. The improvement brought health in Salford close to the national average 9.9% in England described their health as good in 2011).

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Salford increased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Salford, the North West and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

Salford saw the North West's second-largest fall in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just over 1 in 11 (9.2%) households in Salford had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 10% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child remained close to 28%.

Across the region, only Eden saw a greater fall in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents (from 10% to 9.3%).

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Salford

Salford saw the North West's joint third-largest fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability, alongside Preston. The largest fall was seen in Barrow-in-Furness

In 2011, just over 1 in 18 (5.7%) in Salford reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.4% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 4.0% to 4.4%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

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